noun
gendarme
zhon-DAHM
Gendarme (noun) means a member of a military force assigned to police duties, especially in France. Example: “A gendarme directed traffic around the accident.”
noun
1
A member of a military force assigned to police duties, especially in France.
"A gendarme directed traffic around the accident."
2
A tall, narrow rock formation along a mountain ridge, resembling a standing sentry.
"Continuing to the main summit involves ascents of the gendarmes (the first being the owl-eared one referred to in the next route description) and 140-foot rappels down their south sides."
— Joe Kelsey, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains (2013)
"The Arete starts easily, with several beautiful, loping pitches leading to a striking gendarme."
— Climbing - Issues 178-180 (1998)
"Climbers had to scramble around the gendarme near the summit."
"The previous attempts foundered when they tried to take this gendarme directly."
— Chris Jones, Climbing in North America (1979)
How to use gendarme
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA French military police officer, or a rock spire on a mountain ridge.
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Word forms
- Plural
- gendarmes, gensdarmes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ directed traffic around the accident.
Etymology
From French gendarme, originally a back-formation from gens d'armes, "people of arms."
Frequently asked questions
What does “gendarme” mean?
The word “gendarme” means a member of a military force assigned to police duties, especially in France. In plain terms, a French military police officer, or a rock spire on a mountain ridge.
How do you pronounce “gendarme”?
“Gendarme” is pronounced zhon-DAHM (/ʒɑnˈdɑɹm/ in IPA).
How do you use “gendarme” in a sentence?
Here is “gendarme” used in a sentence: “A gendarme directed traffic around the accident.”
What part of speech is “gendarme”?
“Gendarme” is a noun.
Where does the word “gendarme” come from?
The word “gendarme” comes from French. From French gendarme, originally a back-formation from gens d'armes, "people of arms.".
How many meanings does “gendarme” have?
“Gendarme” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a member of a military force assigned to police duties, especially in France.
